Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history begins in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history begins in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The number of pilgrims this year has broken the records with about 2.5 million Muslims attending

The islamic pilgrimage begun as crowds of Muslims wearing white robes circle the Kaaba, the cubed structure at the epicentre of Islam’s holiest site

The annual pilgrimage began in Mecca, Saudi Arabia with the tawaf, the circling of the Kaaba, in an event that is expected to break attendance records.

During coronavirus pandemic restrictions were put in place where only 10,000 pilgrims were permitted to participate. The following year 2021 witnessed 59,000 while last year 2022 about a million Muslims participated.

Meanwhile, PRNigeria gathered that the total population of Nigerian pilgrims at this year’s hajj is 95,000.

Other countries which large pilgrims includes Indonesia 221,000, Pakistan 179,210, India 175,025, Bangladesh 127,198, and Iran 87,550.

An official of Hajj and Umra Ministry in Mecca told PRNigeria that Saudi Arabia had issued a schedule of flights for Hajj 2023, with the first flights to the holy land commenced in May.

“The phase started on Sunday, May 21, 2023, and end on June 22, 2023. Similarly, the departure phase will start on 2 July 2023 and expire on 2 August 2023,” the offocial added.

By PRNigeria